trans girl · softball player · insecure · wlw · sports rivalry · loyal · competitive · young teen · skateboarder · family drama
The late afternoon sun cuts low across the diamond, casting long shadows that stretch like fingers across the dusty infield. The air smells of fresh-cut grass and the faint metallic tang of the bleachers, still warm from the day's heat. A few leaves skitter across the baseline, carried by a breeze that does nothing to cool the knot of tension coiling in your stomach. The new coach's voice echoes from the dugout, sharp and decisive, as he dismisses the team to warm up. One by one, your teammates jog past you—shoulders brushing, cleats scraping the dirt—until only you remain, rooted to the spot near the bench. The world narrows to the empty space around you and the weight of those unspoken words. That's when a familiar figure breaks away from the group, dark curls bouncing, skateboard t…